Journal of NUCLEAR SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY,26[1], pp.

23~27

(January

23

1989).

REVIEW

Development,

Validation

and Applications

JAERI Thermal
Neutronics
Keichiro

of SRAC :

Reactor Standard
Code System
TSUCHIHASHI

Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute*

Received

September

20,

1988

The JAERI thermal reactor standard

neutronics
design code system, SRAC has been developed
at JAERI to establish
an overall neutronics
calculation
code system.
While incorporating
the
conventional
transport
and diffusion codes, SRAC is characterized
by application
of the collision
probability
method on the resonance
absorption
and the cell calculations
over the whole neutron
energy.
A comprehensive
set of collision probability
routines for 13 types of geometries
yields
wide application
of SRAC
to almost
all types of thermal
reactors.
Since the functions
have
been qualified through a wide range of benchmark
calculations,
SRAC has been used for neutronics
design
of the core conversion
of JAERI research
and test
experiments
performed
at JAERI and domestic
universities.
and data extend its applicability
to HCLWRs cores.
KEYWORDS:
sion probability

I.

neutronics,
method,

reactors
and the analyses
of critical
Recent
modifications
of methods

code system,
cell calculations,
benchmarks,
experimental
data,

INTRODUCTION

The development
of the SRAC code system(1) was started in 1978 to share the neutronics
part of the JAERI
thermal
reactor
standard code system.
Demands were growing
for more accurate
estimate
of reactor characteristics,
safety
aspects
and fuel cycle strategies, at that time when the core conversion
of the JAERI research
and test reactors
for
the use of reduced enrichment
fuel, the conceptual
design
of a test facility of HTGR,
and the utilization
of plutonium
in the light
water
power
reactors
were the urgent programs.
The system has been designed
to permit
the application
to a wide range of reactor
types
for a variety
of usages
such as a
feasibility
study, a conceptual
design and an
experimental
analysis.
To fulfill the purpose,
many options
have
been
implemented
for

resonance
thermal

absorption,
collireactors,
SRAC

selection
of methods, energy group structures
and geometries.
The applications
of the primary version of
the SRAC code system(2) were started
in 1981
after the verification
by extensive benchmark
calculations.
An increase of users has accelerated the debugging
of many unexperienced
functions
since then.
Effort has been continued
to establish
an
overall
neutronics
code system.
In addition
to the cross section
library
derived
from
ENDF/B-4,
the JENDL-2 version has also been
available.
An auxiliary
code for the core
burnup and the fuel management
has been
incorporated,
and a number of additions
and
modifications
of the functions have been made.

II.
The
permit

MAIN

FEATURES

SRAC

code

overall

neutronics

* Tokai-mura
23

, Ibaraki-ken

OF SRAC

system

is designed
calculation

319-11,

to

which

Review

24

covers

microscopic

cross

pilation,
macroscopic
and
core
calculations
and

the

safety
The

fuel

The

parameters

functions

library

are

are

kinetics
also

explained

and

group constants are composed to install only

the data of the relevant nuclides in a user's
multi-group
structure.
After collapsing is
made by using the built-in asymptotic spectrum,
the macroscopic
cross sections are
composed.
The few group structure is also specified
by the user.
(2) Optional Cell Calculation
Several kinds of optional modules are available for the cell calculation. The module based
on the collision probability method can treat
13 types of geometries.
The SN module
utilizes the ANISN code(9) for 1D calculation
and the TWOTRAN cod(4) for 2D.
The multi-group cell calculation can be

provided.
in Fig.

Nucl. Sci. Technol.,

mental cross section libraries is sufficiently

fine. For the computer time and storage
saving "User" libraries for the fast and thermal

com-

constant
generation,
cell
including
the
burnup

management.

related
above

section

(K. Tsuchihashi)J.

1.

performed separately in each energy range of

fast and thermal neutrons as a fixed source

Fig.

are

Flow

diagram

of SRAC

The unique features implemented

described
as follows :
(1) Flexible
The energy

Energy Group
group structure
Table

problem, or at once through the whole neutron

energy range as an eigenvalue problem or as
a fixed boundary source problem.
(3) Wide Reactor Types to be Applied
A comprehensive set of collision probability
routines for various lattice geometries permits
the cell calculation of a variety of thermal
reactors.
The list of geometries
SRAC can
treat is given in Table 1.
(4) Optional Treatment for
Resonance Absorption
Three options for the treatment
of the
resonance
absorption
are available.
The
effective cross sections by the conventional
table-look-up method based on the NR approximation can be replaced by those based on the

Lattice

in SRAC

Structure
of the fundageometries

treated

24

by collision

probability

method

Vol. 26, No. 1 (Jan. 1989)Review

(K. Tsuchihashi)

IR approximation.
Also provided is a direct
method to solve a multi-region cell problem
in a ultra-fine group by the collision probability method.
The use of an interpolation
scheme for the collision probabilities reduces
the computing time to the same order as the
table-look-up method.
(5) Treatment of Double Heterogeneity
Smearing to have the homogeneous equivalent cross sections of the cell and collapsing
them into the few group structure are performed in separate steps. This separation of
smearing from collapsing enables us to treat
a highly heterogeneous geometry by successive
cell calculations.
(6) Installed Dancoff Correction
Factor Calculation
The Dancoff correction factor is optionally
calculated by the installed collision probability
module.
Recent modification introduced
a
generalized Dancoff correction(6) given not for
an absorber lump but for each constituent nuclide to treat so-called "two rod heterogeneity".
III.
(7) Option for Core Calculations
The core calculation is performed by the
SN module mentioned before or by the diffusion
module
in
which
the
diffusion
code
CITATION(6) is used.
A preceeding multi-group core calculation
in a simplified geometry may be used to provide
space-dependent few group constants for the
core calculation on the more realistic geometry.
Several modifications are made to the
CITATION module to yield the kinetics and
safety related parameters beff and l, the direction
dependent
diffusion
coefficients,
and the
material-dependent fission spectrum and delayed
neutron fraction.
(8) Burnup Calculation
In the SRAC code system, the burnup
process is divided into two steps.
First, the
cell burnup process yields few group macroscopic cross sections in which the effect of
neutron spectrum change is implicitly included.
They are prepared on the discrete values of
burnup, fuel temperature
and coolant void
fraction for a cell.
An auxiliary program COREBN to execute
2D or 3D core burnup utilizes this tabulation

25

of few group macroscopic cross sections.

The
diffusion routine calculates the power distribution to give increased burnup of each
spatial node. The changes of composition and
also neutron spectrum during burnup are
expressed by the changes of macroscopic cross
sections which are provided by an interpolation
scheme of the macroscopic cross sections.
Information before initial and after final
step of burnup is read/written
from/to a
"History" file which keeps the information of
each individual fuel element. It is utilized for
the fuel management.
(9) Data Storage on PDS File
The storage and search of a variety of
data are carried out by using a kind of PDS
(Partitioned Data Set) files.
An assembler
routine PDSFUTY permits the file/member
control (open, close, read, write, delete) by the
Fortran statement.
The built-in FACOM TSS
terminal commands are also available for file
control before and after the execution.
VALIDATION

AND

APPLICATIONS

For validation purpose, extensive benchmark calculations(7)(8) were carried out on

various types of critical assemblies such as
TCA*, DCA, SHE, JMTRC HEU cores.
A
series of benchmark analyses of TRX and
ETA cores showed the good prediction on not
only the multiplication factors but also the
spectrum parameters
such as P25, 628, C*.
Some examples of the results are given in
Table 2. A series of FBR benchmark calculations gave confidence on the adequacy of
fast energy group constants.
An international
RERTR program
has
offered occasions to show the validity of SRAC.
They are an intercomparison
of benchmark
calculations for a heavy water moderated
research reactor(9)(10), an analysis of the initial
LEU core of FNR(11), analyses
of the
temperature
and void coefficients of KUCA
MEU cores(12)~(14), and a series of analyses of
the critical experiments
at JMTRC MEU
core(15)(16) Another international
benchmark
for a BWR lattice with adjacent Gd pins(17)
* TCA , DCA etc. will be explained
TIONS given after Chapter
IV.
25

in ABBREVIA-

26

Table

C/E

Review

(K. Tsuchihashi)J.

valuest

for Keff

showed that SRAC can treat the burnup of a

highly heterogeneous lattice cell.
The SRAC code system was applied to the
designs and safety analyses of the upgrading
of the JRR-3(18), the core conversion of JMTR
and JRR-2 for the use of MEU fuel, and the
reconstruction
of SHE(19) into VHTRC. The
benchmark
study of the criticality
safety
facilities(20) may qualify the design and safety
analysis of NUCEF.
Good prediction for graphite
moderated
systems has been shown through analyses of
the initial critical approach of VHTRC(21), the
reactivity
worth of thorium plates and flux
distribution in the test zone of UTR KINKI(22),
and the reactivity worth of beryllium plates
in the graphite zone of KUCA(23).

and lattice

Nucl. Sci. Technol.,

parameters

Prediction
of reactivity
coefficients has been
validated
through
analyses
of the Doppler
effect
of coated
particle
fuel for HTGR(24),
the temperature
coefficient
of a light water
moderated
research
reactor(25) and the reactivity coefficients
of the Chernobyl
reactor(26).
Recent effort on development
of HCLWR
has led some modificationsmc(5)(27)(28) of method
and data to apply SRAC to an intermediate
spectrum
system.
Fairly
good agreement
shown
in an analysis(29) of high conversion
LWR experiments
performed
at the Proteus
reactor was obtained by a new collision probability routine to treat "two rod heterogeneity".
Analyses
of critical experiments
for HCLWR
performed
at KUCA(30) and at FCA(31)
good applicability
to HCLWR cores.
26

show

Vol. 26, No. 1 (Jan. 1989)Review

IV.

CONCLUDING

(K. Tsuchihashi)

REMARKS

The wide applicability and sufficient accuracy of SRAC mentioned above are fully
utilized for analyses of critical experiments,
neutronics
designs of research
and test
reactors and feasibility studies of new type
reactors at JAERI and the domestic universities.
An innovative plan is started at JAERI to
establish a reactor design code system by
combining SRAC with some thermohydraulics
and structure design codes using an object
oriented language.
An artificial intelligence
technique coupled with a knowledge base will
support the usage and extend the utility of
the new system.
[ABBREVIATIONS]
TCA :
DCA :

SHE :

FCA
JMTR:
JRR-2
JRR-3
JMTRC:
RERTR

:
:
:
:

HEU:
LEU :
MEU:
FNR :

UTR

KUCA :
KINKI:
VHTRC:
HTGR :
HCLWR :
NUCEF

Tank-type
Critical Assembly
for
light water reactor
Deuterium
Critical
Assembly
for
a pressure
tube type reactor
at PNC Oarai
Semi-Homogeneous
Experimental
facility
loaded with 20% enriched
uranium,
moderated
by graphite
Fast Critical Assembly
Japan Material
Testing
Reactor
Japan Research
Reactor-2
Japan Research
Reactor-3
Critical
facility for JMTR
Reduced
Enrichment
of Research
and Test Reactor Fuels
Highly Enriched
Uranium
Low Enriched
Uranium
Medium Enriched
Uranium
Ford Nuclear
Reactor at
Michigan
Univ.
Kyoto Univ. Critical
Assembly
University
Training
Reactor
at Kinki Univ.
Very High Temperature
Reactor
Critical Facility
High Temperature
Gas-cooled
Reactor
High Conversion
Light Water
Reactor
Nuclear
Fuel Cycle Safety
Engineering
Facility
REFERENCES.

(1) TSUCHIHASHI, K., ISHIGURO, Y., KANEKO, K.,

IDO, M. : JAERI 1302, (1986).
(2) TSUCHIHASHI, K., TAKANO, H., HORIKAMI, K.,
ISHIGURO,Y., KANEKO,K., HARA, T.: JAERI
1285, (1983).
(3) ENGLE, Jr., W.W. : K-1693, (1967).

27

(4) LATHROP,
(
K. D., BRINKLY, F. W.:
LA-4432,
1970).
(5) ISHIGURO,Y., KANEKO,K.: J. Nucl. Sci. Technol., 22, 853 (1985).
(6) FOWLER, T. B., VONDY, D. R., CUMMINGHAM,
G. W.: ORNL-TM-2496,
(1969).
(7) TSUCHIHASHI, K., AKINO, F., NAGAOKA, Y.,
ISHIGURO,Y.: JAERI-M
9781, (in Japanese),
(1981).
(8) JTAKANO, H., et al.:
JAERI-M
83-202. (in
apanese), (1983).
(9) MORI, M., TSUCHIHASHI, K.: JAERI-M
84230, (in Japanese), (1984).
(10) Physics Section IAEA (Ed.) : IAEA-TECDOC324, (1985).
(11) ARIGANE,
M
K., TSUCHIHASHI, K.: Proc. Int.
tg. on Reduced Enrichment for Research and
Test Reactors, Oct. 24~27 , 1983, Tokai, Japan,
JAERI-M 84-073, (1984).
(12) MORI, T., TSUCHIHASHI, K.: Proc. Int. Mtg.
on Research and Test Reactor Core Conversion
from
A
HEU to LEU Fuels, Nov. 8~10, 1982,
rgonne, ANL/ RERTR/ TM-4, CONF-821155,
(1983).
(13) KANDA, K., et al.: Proc. Int. Mtg. on Reduced
Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors,
Oct. 14-16,
1985, Petten, (1986).
(14) SENDA, Y., et al.:
Nucl. Technol., 70, 318
(1985).
NAGAOKA,
(15)
Y., et al.:
Ref. (11).
SHIMAKAWA, S., et al.:
Ref.
(16)
(13)
(17) MAEDER, C., WYDLER, P.: NEACRP L-271,
(1984).
(18) ITSURUTA, H., ICHIKAWA,H., IWASAKI,J. : PrOC.
nt. Mtg. on Reduced Enrichment for Research
and Test Reactors, ANL, Oct. 15~18,
1984,
Argonne, USA, ANL-RERTR/ TM-6, (1985).
YASUDA, H. (Ed.) : JAERI 1305, (in Japanese),
(19)
(1987).
SENUMA,
(20)
I., et al.: JAERI-M 84-110, (in Japanese), (1984).
(21) AKINO,
S
F., et al.:
Submitted to J. At. Energy
oc. Jpn. (in Japanese).
(22) ITOH, T., et al.:
Annu. Rep. Kinki Univ. At.
Res. Inst., (in Japanese), 22, 15 (1985).
) IMISAWA, T., et al.: Annu. Rep. (23
Res. Reactor
nst., Kyoto Univ., 18, 143 (1985).
(24) 43
YASUDA, H., et al.: J. Nucl. Sci. Technol., 24,
1 (1987).
) MORI,
(25M., SHIROYA, S., KANDA, K.: ibid., 24,
653 (1987).
)
TSUCHIHASHI,
(26
K., AKINO, F.: ibid., 24, 1055
(1987).
TAKANO,
(27)
H., AKIE, H. : ibid., 24, 501 (1987).
(28) TAKANO, H., KANEKO, K., et al.: Nucl. Technol., 80, 250 (1988).
ISHIGURO,Y., (29)
TSUCHIHASHI, K., SASAKI, M.:
JAERI-M 84-180, (in Japanese), (1984).
(30) SEKIYA, H., et al.: Preprint 1987 Annu. Mtg.
of At. Energy Soc. Jpn., Nagoya, (in Japanese),
E23, (1987).
1) OSUGI,
(3 T., et al.: Submitted to J. Nucl. Sci.
Technol.

27